The Regency Hotel And Leisure Centre

The Regency Hotel & Leisure Centre is in a good location if you don't mind travelling into the city centre but a major plus of the hotel is that it's only 6kms to Dublin Airport. Therefore its handy if you're flying into Dublin and don't want to make the trek into the middle of the city.

Actually, this part of Dublin is quite exclusive and you'll see that there are a few new housing developments in the area.

Rail - The main train stations in Dublin are Heuston Station (trains from the West and South of Ireland) and Connolly Station (serves the North and West) so you'll arrive into either station. From Heuston Station you can catch the Rail Link bus to Connolly Station and then take the DART train service out to Drumcondra DART Station.

To get to the hotel, exit the station and turn left to walk up to join St. Alphonsus Road and take a right to walk towards Lower Drumcondra Road. Then simply walk straight up Drumcondra Road and onto Swords Road and you'll find the Regency Hotel & Leisure Centre in on your right hand side - this is about a 10 to 15 minute walk.

Bus - You're really well connected to the Dublin Bus network at this hotel as the bus no. 16A runs all the way from Dublin Airport, along the Swords Road (where the hotel is) and into O'Connell Street in the heart of Dublin.

LUAS Tram - The LUAS Tram system isn't much use to you for getting out to the Regency Hotel & Leisure Centre as it doesn't run towards the Drumcondra area.

There are a good few options available to you from Dublin Airport.

First of all, you can easily catch Dublin Bus no. 16A which operates the main route from the airport to the city and (handily) the Swords Road is part of that route. It's about a 10 to 15 minute journey and it'll cost you in region of EUR1.50 to EUR2.00.

(The hotel does offer a free shuttle service but only from the hotel to the airport. This operates from 6am to 10am daily and leaves every half hour.)

But if you don't fancy using public transport you can grab a taxi from outside the arrivals hall. A taxi rank is located off to your right as you come out of the main exit and the fare should roughly cost between EUR15.00 and EUR20.00.

Hiring a car is another option and it's really straightforward to drive to the Regency Hotel & Leisure Centre - just follow signs for city centre along the N1 and this'll take you onto the Swords Road, again about a 10 to 15 minute drive away.

If you make your way to Dublin's O'Connell Street from the Regency Hotel & Leisure Centre (just follow the bus directions above) you are within a nice handy walking distance of some of the city's major attractions. O'Connell Street itself is home to the historically important GPO (site of the 1916 Rising) and the much more recently constructed Spire.

From O'Connell Street take a wander across the River Liffey via O'Connell Bridge to Westmoreland Street and then onto College Green where the world famous Trinity College is located. Apart from educating some famous figures in history, this is also the home of the Book Of Kells where the decorative art of those Irish monks remains as breathtaking as ever.

From the entrance to Trinity College you can make your way along College Green (passing the historical Bank Of Ireland on your right) to Dame Street and you're literally a stone's throw from the throbbing pubs and clubs of the Temple Bar area - all of the streets down to your right are regarded as Temple Bar.

But if you continue on up to Lord Edward Street you can take in the dominant structures of both City Hall (The Story Of The Capital Exhibition) and Dublin Castle along the way. It's also worth noting that the fascinating artefacts of The Chester Beatty Library sit within the grounds of Dublin Castle and this place is definitely worth a look.

Further on up Lord Edward Street you'll see the impressive medieval architecture of Christchurch Cathedral and you've also a chance to explore Dublin's Viking past at the Dvblinia visitor attraction.

The Guinness Storehouse isn't too far from here and is worth the walk down Cornmarket to Thomas Street, left onto Crane Street and then another left onto Market Street. After you get there, a complimentary pint of Guinness will await you in the Gravity Bar with some wonderful views of Dublin.

Using the entrance to Trinity College again as your starting point, you can head up College Green to join Nassau Street around to your left. Then take a right onto Kildare Street where you'll find the Heraldic Museum, National Library, Leinster House (home of the government) and the National Museum.

The next street down is Merrion Square where you can visit the National Gallery and the Natural History Museum or simply stroll around this Georgian part of Dublin or stop off at the unique Oscar Wilde Memorial.

For shopping you can find everything along O'Connell Street and off its side streets such as Henry Street (Ilac & Jervis Street Shopping Centres), Earl Street North and so on. And if you cross O'Connell Bridge, to Westmoreland Street and onto College Green, continue straight ahead and you'll get to the bottom of Grafton Street.

This pedestrianised part of Dublin has all the international brands and some local favourites as well as and has loads of side streets leading off it. And at the other end of Grafton Street you'll come across the towering St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre, which is packed with even more retail outlets.